The Steelers face Cincinnati quarterback Carson Palmer for the first time since 2007.
Game plan

When the Steelers have the ball: The Bengals have become more aggressive under second-year defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer and added several players to help in that regard, including DT Tank Johnson and S Roy Williams. After giving up only two sacks to the Bears, the Steelers have to focus their attention on DE Antwan Odom, who had five vs. the Packers. But the Bengals also benefit from the return of LB Keith Rivers, last year's No. 1 pick who was sidelined for the season by a vicious block by Hines Ward. Their focus will be on stopping RB Willie Parker, who has averaged 130.3 yards rushing in his past three games in Cincinnati.
Data

Game: Steelers (1-1) at Cincinnati Bengals (1-1).

When: 4:15 p.m.

Where: Paul Brown Stadium.

TV: KDKA.

Radio: WDVE-FM (102.5), WBGG-AM (970)

When the Bengals have the ball: They haven't had a 100-yard rusher vs. the Steelers since Rudi Johnson in October 2004, but they are hoping to change that. RB Cedric Benson, who was signed early in the 2008 season, had 141 yards on 29 carries vs. Green Bay -- his second-best total since signing. QB Carson Palmer is back after missing most of last season with an elbow injury, but is without WR T.J. Houshmandzadeh, who signed with Seattle. Former Jets WR Laveraneus Coles has replaced him. That has forced Palmer to focus more on Chad Ochocinco (20 ypc, 9 catches, best in AFC for players with at least nine catches).
Keep an eye on

OLB Rey Maualuga: For the second year in a row, the Bengals drafted a linebacker from Southern California with their No. 1 pick in an attempt to improve their run defense. Maualuga is the strongside linebacker and will line on the left side in their 4-3 defense, meaning he will be a frequent target for the Steelers' counter plays. The Steelers had five runs of 12 yards or longer against the Bears, all to the right side. What's more, they have had a 100-yard rusher in each of the past five games, and six of the past seven, in Cincinnati.
Intangibles

The Steelers have won the past eight meetings in Paul Brown Stadium, including a 2005 playoff game, and held the Bengals to an average of 12.6 points in those games. In five of those seven regular-season victories, the Steelers were coming off a loss the week before. Coach Mike Tomlin has never lost to the Bengals (4-0), who are coming off a 31-24 victory in Green Bay.
To win, the Bengals must ...

1. Be Blitz-innati. Roethlisberger has not been sacked in the past three games against the Bengals and just once in the past four.

3. Deliver Ex-Cedric headache. Steelers lost two players on one '08 play tackling Benson -- Bryant McFadden (arm) and Troy Polamalu (concussion).
To win, the Steelers must ...

1. Stack the sacks. After leading the AFC with 51 sacks in 2008, the Steelers have only two after two games.

2. Line Veinticuatro on Ochocinco. The top priority is always to prevent the big play to the former Chad Johnson. Historically, that means Ike Taylor.

3. Give 'em the Willies. Parker did not play last year in Cincinnati, but he has rushed for more than 100 yards in each of his past three games there.
Gerry Dulac can be reached at gdulac@post-gazette.com.